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士師記 19-21
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
士師記 19-21
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
利未人和他的妾
19 那時候，以色列沒有王。有一個利未人住在以法蓮山區的偏遠地帶，他娶了猶大 伯利恆的一個女子為妾。 2 那女子不忠，離開丈夫回到猶大 伯利恆的父親家，住了四個月。 3 後來，她丈夫帶著一個僕人和兩頭驢去見她，用好話勸她回去。那女子帶他去見自己的父親。她父親看見女婿來了，便熱情地接待他， 4 留他在家裡小住。他便在那裡住了三天，一起吃住。 5 第四天，他清早起來準備回家，岳父對他說：「吃點東西補充體力後再走吧。」 6 於是，二人坐下來一起吃喝。岳父對他說：「再住一夜，高興高興吧。」 7 他不肯答應，起來要走，但岳父一再挽留，他就又住了一夜。 8 第五天清早起來，他準備回家，岳父對他說：「吃點東西，太陽偏西再走吧。」於是，二人一同吃飯。 9 他帶著妾和僕人起來要走的時候，岳父對他說：「看啊，太陽偏西了，天色已晚，再住一夜高興高興，明天一早再走吧。」
10 可是，他不願意再留一夜，就備好兩頭驢，帶著他的妾走了，來到耶布斯附近。耶布斯就是耶路撒冷。 11 他們臨近耶布斯時，天快黑了，僕人對主人說：「我們不如就在耶布斯人的城裡住宿吧。」 12 主人說：「我們不可在沒有以色列人住的外邦城邑住宿，不如趕到基比亞。」 13 他又說：「我們前往基比亞或拉瑪住宿吧。」 14 於是，他們繼續前行，到便雅憫境內的基比亞時，天已經黑了。 15 他們決定在那裡過夜。因為沒有人接待他們，他們只好在城中的廣場露宿。
16 那時，有一個老人從田間工作回來，經過那裡。他本來是以法蓮山區的人，現在住在便雅憫境內的基比亞。 17 他看見有人在城中的廣場露宿，就問：「你們從哪裡來，要到哪裡去？」 18 利未人回答說：「我們從猶大的伯利恆來，正要回家去。我住在以法蓮山區的偏遠地帶。我現在要去耶和華的殿。這裡沒有人接待我。 19 其實我有糧草餵驢，我和我的妾及僕人也有餅和酒，什麼也不缺。」 20 那老人說：「到我家來吧，我會供應你們的需要，千萬不可在街頭露宿。」 21 於是，那老人帶他們回家，餵他們的驢。他們洗完腳後，便一起吃喝。
22 他們正歡快的時候，城裡的一群無賴前來圍住房子，連連叩門，對老人說：「把你家裡的客人交出來，我們要跟他性交。」 23 老人出去對他們說：「弟兄們啊，不要做這種惡事！這人是我的客人，不要幹這種卑鄙的事！ 24 我有個女兒，仍是處女，還有這人的妾，我把她們交出來，任你們玩弄，只是不要對這人幹這種卑鄙的事。」 25 他們卻不肯聽。利未人就把自己的妾推出去交給他們。他們強暴她，終夜凌辱她，直到天快亮才放她走。 26 她回到丈夫住宿的房子門前，就仆倒在地。
27 早晨，她丈夫起來打開房門要上路，發現她倒臥在門前，雙手搭在門檻上， 28 就對她說：「起來，我們走吧！」她卻沒有反應。於是，他就把她的屍體放在驢背上啟程回家。 29 回到家裡，他用刀把屍體切成十二塊，派人送往以色列全境。 30 看見的人都說：「自從以色列人離開埃及以來，這種事從未發生過，也從未見過。我們必須商量一下，看看該怎麼辦。」
討伐基比亞
20 於是，從但到別示巴以及基列的全體以色列人萬眾一心，來到米斯巴，聚集在耶和華面前。 2 以色列各支派的首領都參加了這次上帝子民的聚會，當時有四十萬持刀的步兵。 3 便雅憫人也聽見以色列人聚集在米斯巴的消息。以色列人問那個利未人：「請告訴我們，這件邪惡的事是怎麼發生的。」 4 那利未人，就是被害女子的丈夫說：「我和我的妾到便雅憫的基比亞住宿。 5 那天晚上，基比亞人包圍我們住宿的房子，要殺死我。他們把我的妾蹂躪致死。 6 我就把她的屍體切成塊，送到以色列的各個地區，讓以色列人都知道基比亞人做了邪惡、無恥的事。 7 以色列人啊，你們看該怎麼處理吧！」
8 眾人起來異口同聲地說：「我們誰也不回帳篷，誰也不回家。 9 現在我們要抽籤去攻打基比亞。 10 我們要從各支派中抽出十分之一的人負責運糧，等軍隊到達基比亞後，就可以討伐在以色列做出這種卑鄙之事的基比亞人。」 11 於是，以色列人團結一致，一起去攻打那城。
12 他們派人去對便雅憫各地的人說：「你們中間怎麼發生了這種邪惡的事！ 13 現在把那些基比亞的無賴交出來，我們要處死他們，從以色列剷除罪惡。」便雅憫人卻充耳不聞， 14 還從各城聚集到基比亞跟以色列人打仗。 15 便雅憫人從各城召集了兩萬六千刀兵，還從基比亞召集了七百精兵。 16 軍中有七百精兵善用左手甩石，毫髮不差。 17 其他十一個以色列支派則召集了四十萬善戰的刀兵。
18 以色列人到伯特利去求問上帝，說：「我們當中哪個支派應當先去攻打便雅憫人呢？」耶和華說：「猶大支派。」
19 第二天清早，以色列人就在基比亞附近安營， 20 擺開陣勢，準備攻打便雅憫人。 21 便雅憫人從基比亞出來，當天殺了以色列軍兩萬二千人。 22 以色列人重整士氣，仍在第一天列陣的地方列陣。 23 列陣之前，他們在耶和華面前一直哀哭到晚上。他們求問耶和華，說：「我們應該再去攻打我們的同胞便雅憫人嗎？」耶和華說：「可以去。」
24 第二天，以色列人前去攻打便雅憫人。 25 便雅憫人從基比亞出來迎戰，又殺了以色列軍一萬八千刀兵。 26 以色列全軍來到伯特利，坐在耶和華面前哀哭，那天他們一直禁食到晚上，又在耶和華面前獻上燔祭和平安祭。 27-28 那時，上帝的約櫃就在那裡，亞倫的孫子、以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈任祭司。以色列人求問耶和華，說：「我們應該再去攻打我們的同胞便雅憫人嗎？還是退兵？」耶和華說：「去攻打吧，因為明天我必把他們交在你們手中。」
29 以色列人在基比亞周圍設下伏兵。 30 第三天，以色列人又像前兩次一樣在基比亞列陣，攻打便雅憫人。 31 便雅憫人前來迎戰，被以色列人誘到城外。他們又像前兩次一樣擊殺以色列人，大約三十名以色列人死在通往基比亞和伯特利的兩條路上。 32 便雅憫人說：「我們又打敗他們了。」但以色列人已經商議好，用詐敗的方法誘敵離城到大路上來。 33 以色列全軍在巴力·他瑪列陣反攻，埋伏在基比亞西面的以色列人也衝了出來。 34 有一萬以色列精兵從正面攻打基比亞，戰事非常激烈。便雅憫人大禍臨頭了仍懵然不知。 35 耶和華幫助以色列人戰勝了便雅憫人。那天，以色列人殺了便雅憫兩萬五千一百刀兵。 36 便雅憫人這才意識到自己戰敗了。
原來以色列人在便雅憫人面前詐敗，因為他們已在基比亞附近設下伏兵。 37 那些伏兵迅速衝進基比亞，殺了全城的人。 38 以色列人和伏兵已有約定，伏兵在城內點起一股濃煙時， 39 以色列人便轉身殺回。便雅憫人殺了詐敗的以色列軍大約三十人，以為像以前一樣打敗了他們。 40 這時基比亞城已濃煙滾滾，便雅憫人回頭觀望，只見全城濃煙四起。 41 以色列人轉身殺了回來，便雅憫人大驚失色，知道大禍臨頭了。 42 他們從以色列人面前轉身逃往曠野，卻無法逃脫。以色列人從各城出來夾攻他們。 43 以色列人圍攻便雅憫人，一路追殺他們直到基比亞的東邊。 44 便雅憫人共死了一萬八千名勇士。 45 餘下的人都逃往曠野的臨門岩，沿途有五千人被殺。以色列人追殺他們，一直追到基頓，又消滅了他們兩千人。 46 那天，便雅憫人共死了兩萬五千名英勇的刀兵， 47 只有六百人逃到了臨門岩，在那裡住了四個月。 48 以色列人回師便雅憫境內，將各城的男女老少以及牲畜全部殺死，又放火燒毀所有的城邑。
為便雅憫支派娶妻
21 以色列人曾在米斯巴起誓不把女兒嫁給便雅憫人。 2 他們來到伯特利，坐在上帝面前放聲痛哭，直到黃昏。 3 他們說：「以色列的上帝耶和華啊，以色列為何少了一個支派呢？為何發生了這樣的事呢？」 4 第二天，眾人清早起來在那裡築了一座祭壇，獻上燔祭和平安祭。 5 他們彼此議論說：「我們到米斯巴聚集在耶和華面前的時候，各支派中誰沒有來呢？」原來，他們曾經起誓說：凡不到米斯巴聚集在耶和華面前的人都要被處死。 6 以色列人為他們的同胞便雅憫人難過，說：「如今以色列絕了一個支派。 7 我們曾經在耶和華面前起誓，決不把女兒嫁給便雅憫人，現在我們應該怎麼辦才能使他們剩下來的人得到妻子呢？」
8 他們又查問各支派中誰沒有到米斯巴聚集在耶和華面前，結果發現基列·雅比人缺席， 9 因為點兵的時候，沒有一個基列·雅比人在場。 10 於是，會眾派出一萬二千精兵，命令他們殺掉基列·雅比人及其婦女和孩子。 11 他們對精兵說：「你們所要做的就是消滅所有的男子和已婚婦女。」 12 他們在基列·雅比的居民中找到四百名處女，把她們帶回迦南的示羅營地。
13 全體會眾又派人到臨門岩去跟便雅憫人講和。 14 於是，便雅憫人返回了家鄉，以色列人把從基列·雅比居民中留下來的四百個處女給他們做妻子，但還是不夠。 15 眾人為便雅憫支派難過，因為耶和華使以色列少了一個支派。
16 會眾的長老說：「便雅憫支派的女子都死了，我們應該怎麼辦才能使餘下的人有妻子呢？ 17 便雅憫的餘民必須成家立後，以免以色列失去一個支派。 18 可是我們又不能把女兒嫁給他們，因為我們曾經起誓，『把女兒嫁給便雅憫人的必受咒詛。』」 19 有人想起在示羅每年都有耶和華的節期。示羅在利波拿以南、伯特利以北至示劍的大路東面。 20 於是，他們對便雅憫人說：「你們埋伏在葡萄園裡， 21 見到示羅的女子出來跳舞時，就衝出去各自搶一個，帶回便雅憫做妻子。 22 倘若她們的父親或弟兄前來抱怨，我們會說，『求你們恩待我們，因為我們從戰場上帶回的女子不夠分給他們做妻子。何況又不是你們把女兒嫁給他們的，所以罪不在你們。』」 23 便雅憫人就依計行事，從跳舞的女子中各自搶了一個，帶回自己的家鄉做妻子。他們重建城邑，住在其中。 24 於是，以色列人離開那裡，各回自己的支派、宗族和家園。
25 那時候，以色列人沒有王，人人各行其是。
Judges 19-21
New International Version
Judges 19-21
New International Version
A Levite and His Concubine
19 In those days Israel had no king.
Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim(A) took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.(B) 2 But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3 her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents’ home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4 His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking,(C) and sleeping there.
5 On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself(D) with something to eat; then you can go.” 6 So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman’s father said, “Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.(E)” 7 And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8 On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!” So the two of them ate together.
9 Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” 10 But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus(F) (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
11 When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Come, let’s stop at this city of the Jebusites(G) and spend the night.”
12 His master replied, “No. We won’t go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13 He added, “Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah(H) and spend the night in one of those places.” 14 So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.(I) 15 There they stopped to spend the night.(J) They went and sat in the city square,(K) but no one took them in for the night.
16 That evening(L) an old man from the hill country of Ephraim,(M) who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17 When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”(N)
18 He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord.[a](O) No one has taken me in for the night. 19 We have both straw and fodder(P) for our donkeys(Q) and bread and wine(R) for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”
20 “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21 So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.(S)
22 While they were enjoying themselves,(T) some of the wicked men(U) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.(V)”
23 The owner of the house went outside(W) and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.(X) 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter,(Y) and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her(Z) and abused her(AA) throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.
29 When he reached home, he took a knife(AB) and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.(AC) 30 Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt.(AD) Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!(AE)”
The Israelites Punish the Benjamites
20 Then all Israel(AF) from Dan to Beersheba(AG) and from the land of Gilead came together as one(AH) and assembled(AI) before the Lord in Mizpah.(AJ) 2 The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men(AK) armed with swords. 3 (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”
4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah(AL) in Benjamin to spend the night.(AM) 5 During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.(AN) They raped my concubine, and she died.(AO) 6 I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,(AP) because they committed this lewd and outrageous act(AQ) in Israel. 7 Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.(AR)”
8 All the men rose up together as one, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house. 9 But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.(AS) 10 We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah[b] in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.” 11 So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.(AT)
12 The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?(AU) 13 Now turn those wicked men(AV) of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.(AW)”
But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. 14 From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites. 15 At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah. 16 Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed,(AX) each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17 Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
18 The Israelites went up to Bethel[c](AY) and inquired of God.(AZ) They said, “Who of us is to go up first(BA) to fight(BB) against the Benjamites?”
The Lord replied, “Judah(BC) shall go first.”
19 The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. 20 The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. 21 The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites(BD) on the battlefield that day. 22 But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. 23 The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord(BE) until evening,(BF) and they inquired of the Lord.(BG) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight(BH) against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”
The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”
24 Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. 25 This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites,(BI) all of them armed with swords.
26 Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord.(BJ) They fasted(BK) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings(BL) and fellowship offerings(BM) to the Lord.(BN) 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(BO) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(BP) was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar,(BQ) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)(BR) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”
The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.(BS)”
29 Then Israel set an ambush(BT) around Gibeah. 30 They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before. 31 The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away(BU) from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel(BV) and the other to Gibeah. 32 While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,”(BW) the Israelites were saying, “Let’s retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads.”
33 All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place(BX) on the west[d] of Gibeah.[e] 34 Then ten thousand of Israel’s able young men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize(BY) how near disaster was.(BZ) 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin(CA) before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. 36 Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten.
Now the men of Israel had given way(CB) before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush(CC) they had set near Gibeah. 37 Those who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword.(CD) 38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke(CE) from the city,(CF) 39 and then the Israelites would counterattack.
The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”(CG) 40 But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.(CH) 41 Then the Israelites counterattacked,(CI) and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come(CJ) on them. 42 So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there. 43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily[f] overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.(CK) 45 As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon,(CL) the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.
46 On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite(CM) swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. 47 But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48 The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.(CN)
Wives for the Benjamites
21 The men of Israel had taken an oath(CO) at Mizpah:(CP) “Not one of us will give(CQ) his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”
2 The people went to Bethel,[g] where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly. 3 “Lord, God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing(CR) from Israel today?”
4 Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(CS)
5 Then the Israelites asked, “Who from all the tribes of Israel(CT) has failed to assemble before the Lord?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah was to be put to death.
6 Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said. 7 “How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath(CU) by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?” 8 Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead(CV) had come to the camp for the assembly. 9 For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.
10 So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children. 11 “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Kill every male(CW) and every woman who is not a virgin.(CX)” 12 They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh(CY) in Canaan.
13 Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace(CZ) to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon.(DA) 14 So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them.
15 The people grieved for Benjamin,(DB) because the Lord had made a gap in the tribes of Israel. 16 And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left? 17 The Benjamite survivors must have heirs,” they said, “so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.(DC) 18 We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath:(DD) ‘Cursed be anyone who gives(DE) a wife to a Benjamite.’ 19 But look, there is the annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh,(DF) which lies north of Bethel(DG), east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem,(DH) and south of Lebonah.”
20 So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, “Go and hide in the vineyards 21 and watch. When the young women of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing,(DI) rush from the vineyards and each of you seize one of them to be your wife. Then return to the land of Benjamin. 22 When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us the favor of helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war. You will not be guilty of breaking your oath because you did not give(DJ) your daughters to them.’”
23 So that is what the Benjamites did. While the young women were dancing,(DK) each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance(DL) and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.(DM)
24 At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance.
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.(DN)
Footnotes
- Judges 19:18 Hebrew, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum; Septuagint going home
- Judges 20:10 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- Judges 20:18 Or to the house of God; also in verse 26
- Judges 20:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 20:33 Hebrew Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- Judges 20:43 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 21:2 Or to the house of God
士師記 19-21
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
士師記 19-21
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
利未人和他的妾
19 那時候，以色列沒有王。有一個利未人住在以法蓮山區的偏遠地帶，他娶了猶大 伯利恆的一個女子為妾。 2 那女子不忠，離開丈夫回到猶大 伯利恆的父親家，住了四個月。 3 後來，她丈夫帶著一個僕人和兩頭驢去見她，用好話勸她回去。那女子帶他去見自己的父親。她父親看見女婿來了，便熱情地接待他， 4 留他在家裡小住。他便在那裡住了三天，一起吃住。 5 第四天，他清早起來準備回家，岳父對他說：「吃點東西補充體力後再走吧。」 6 於是，二人坐下來一起吃喝。岳父對他說：「再住一夜，高興高興吧。」 7 他不肯答應，起來要走，但岳父一再挽留，他就又住了一夜。 8 第五天清早起來，他準備回家，岳父對他說：「吃點東西，太陽偏西再走吧。」於是，二人一同吃飯。 9 他帶著妾和僕人起來要走的時候，岳父對他說：「看啊，太陽偏西了，天色已晚，再住一夜高興高興，明天一早再走吧。」
10 可是，他不願意再留一夜，就備好兩頭驢，帶著他的妾走了，來到耶布斯附近。耶布斯就是耶路撒冷。 11 他們臨近耶布斯時，天快黑了，僕人對主人說：「我們不如就在耶布斯人的城裡住宿吧。」 12 主人說：「我們不可在沒有以色列人住的外邦城邑住宿，不如趕到基比亞。」 13 他又說：「我們前往基比亞或拉瑪住宿吧。」 14 於是，他們繼續前行，到便雅憫境內的基比亞時，天已經黑了。 15 他們決定在那裡過夜。因為沒有人接待他們，他們只好在城中的廣場露宿。
16 那時，有一個老人從田間工作回來，經過那裡。他本來是以法蓮山區的人，現在住在便雅憫境內的基比亞。 17 他看見有人在城中的廣場露宿，就問：「你們從哪裡來，要到哪裡去？」 18 利未人回答說：「我們從猶大的伯利恆來，正要回家去。我住在以法蓮山區的偏遠地帶。我現在要去耶和華的殿。這裡沒有人接待我。 19 其實我有糧草餵驢，我和我的妾及僕人也有餅和酒，什麼也不缺。」 20 那老人說：「到我家來吧，我會供應你們的需要，千萬不可在街頭露宿。」 21 於是，那老人帶他們回家，餵他們的驢。他們洗完腳後，便一起吃喝。
22 他們正歡快的時候，城裡的一群無賴前來圍住房子，連連叩門，對老人說：「把你家裡的客人交出來，我們要跟他性交。」 23 老人出去對他們說：「弟兄們啊，不要做這種惡事！這人是我的客人，不要幹這種卑鄙的事！ 24 我有個女兒，仍是處女，還有這人的妾，我把她們交出來，任你們玩弄，只是不要對這人幹這種卑鄙的事。」 25 他們卻不肯聽。利未人就把自己的妾推出去交給他們。他們強暴她，終夜凌辱她，直到天快亮才放她走。 26 她回到丈夫住宿的房子門前，就仆倒在地。
27 早晨，她丈夫起來打開房門要上路，發現她倒臥在門前，雙手搭在門檻上， 28 就對她說：「起來，我們走吧！」她卻沒有反應。於是，他就把她的屍體放在驢背上啟程回家。 29 回到家裡，他用刀把屍體切成十二塊，派人送往以色列全境。 30 看見的人都說：「自從以色列人離開埃及以來，這種事從未發生過，也從未見過。我們必須商量一下，看看該怎麼辦。」
討伐基比亞
20 於是，從但到別示巴以及基列的全體以色列人萬眾一心，來到米斯巴，聚集在耶和華面前。 2 以色列各支派的首領都參加了這次上帝子民的聚會，當時有四十萬持刀的步兵。 3 便雅憫人也聽見以色列人聚集在米斯巴的消息。以色列人問那個利未人：「請告訴我們，這件邪惡的事是怎麼發生的。」 4 那利未人，就是被害女子的丈夫說：「我和我的妾到便雅憫的基比亞住宿。 5 那天晚上，基比亞人包圍我們住宿的房子，要殺死我。他們把我的妾蹂躪致死。 6 我就把她的屍體切成塊，送到以色列的各個地區，讓以色列人都知道基比亞人做了邪惡、無恥的事。 7 以色列人啊，你們看該怎麼處理吧！」
8 眾人起來異口同聲地說：「我們誰也不回帳篷，誰也不回家。 9 現在我們要抽籤去攻打基比亞。 10 我們要從各支派中抽出十分之一的人負責運糧，等軍隊到達基比亞後，就可以討伐在以色列做出這種卑鄙之事的基比亞人。」 11 於是，以色列人團結一致，一起去攻打那城。
12 他們派人去對便雅憫各地的人說：「你們中間怎麼發生了這種邪惡的事！ 13 現在把那些基比亞的無賴交出來，我們要處死他們，從以色列剷除罪惡。」便雅憫人卻充耳不聞， 14 還從各城聚集到基比亞跟以色列人打仗。 15 便雅憫人從各城召集了兩萬六千刀兵，還從基比亞召集了七百精兵。 16 軍中有七百精兵善用左手甩石，毫髮不差。 17 其他十一個以色列支派則召集了四十萬善戰的刀兵。
18 以色列人到伯特利去求問上帝，說：「我們當中哪個支派應當先去攻打便雅憫人呢？」耶和華說：「猶大支派。」
19 第二天清早，以色列人就在基比亞附近安營， 20 擺開陣勢，準備攻打便雅憫人。 21 便雅憫人從基比亞出來，當天殺了以色列軍兩萬二千人。 22 以色列人重整士氣，仍在第一天列陣的地方列陣。 23 列陣之前，他們在耶和華面前一直哀哭到晚上。他們求問耶和華，說：「我們應該再去攻打我們的同胞便雅憫人嗎？」耶和華說：「可以去。」
24 第二天，以色列人前去攻打便雅憫人。 25 便雅憫人從基比亞出來迎戰，又殺了以色列軍一萬八千刀兵。 26 以色列全軍來到伯特利，坐在耶和華面前哀哭，那天他們一直禁食到晚上，又在耶和華面前獻上燔祭和平安祭。 27-28 那時，上帝的約櫃就在那裡，亞倫的孫子、以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈任祭司。以色列人求問耶和華，說：「我們應該再去攻打我們的同胞便雅憫人嗎？還是退兵？」耶和華說：「去攻打吧，因為明天我必把他們交在你們手中。」
29 以色列人在基比亞周圍設下伏兵。 30 第三天，以色列人又像前兩次一樣在基比亞列陣，攻打便雅憫人。 31 便雅憫人前來迎戰，被以色列人誘到城外。他們又像前兩次一樣擊殺以色列人，大約三十名以色列人死在通往基比亞和伯特利的兩條路上。 32 便雅憫人說：「我們又打敗他們了。」但以色列人已經商議好，用詐敗的方法誘敵離城到大路上來。 33 以色列全軍在巴力·他瑪列陣反攻，埋伏在基比亞西面的以色列人也衝了出來。 34 有一萬以色列精兵從正面攻打基比亞，戰事非常激烈。便雅憫人大禍臨頭了仍懵然不知。 35 耶和華幫助以色列人戰勝了便雅憫人。那天，以色列人殺了便雅憫兩萬五千一百刀兵。 36 便雅憫人這才意識到自己戰敗了。
原來以色列人在便雅憫人面前詐敗，因為他們已在基比亞附近設下伏兵。 37 那些伏兵迅速衝進基比亞，殺了全城的人。 38 以色列人和伏兵已有約定，伏兵在城內點起一股濃煙時， 39 以色列人便轉身殺回。便雅憫人殺了詐敗的以色列軍大約三十人，以為像以前一樣打敗了他們。 40 這時基比亞城已濃煙滾滾，便雅憫人回頭觀望，只見全城濃煙四起。 41 以色列人轉身殺了回來，便雅憫人大驚失色，知道大禍臨頭了。 42 他們從以色列人面前轉身逃往曠野，卻無法逃脫。以色列人從各城出來夾攻他們。 43 以色列人圍攻便雅憫人，一路追殺他們直到基比亞的東邊。 44 便雅憫人共死了一萬八千名勇士。 45 餘下的人都逃往曠野的臨門岩，沿途有五千人被殺。以色列人追殺他們，一直追到基頓，又消滅了他們兩千人。 46 那天，便雅憫人共死了兩萬五千名英勇的刀兵， 47 只有六百人逃到了臨門岩，在那裡住了四個月。 48 以色列人回師便雅憫境內，將各城的男女老少以及牲畜全部殺死，又放火燒毀所有的城邑。
為便雅憫支派娶妻
21 以色列人曾在米斯巴起誓不把女兒嫁給便雅憫人。 2 他們來到伯特利，坐在上帝面前放聲痛哭，直到黃昏。 3 他們說：「以色列的上帝耶和華啊，以色列為何少了一個支派呢？為何發生了這樣的事呢？」 4 第二天，眾人清早起來在那裡築了一座祭壇，獻上燔祭和平安祭。 5 他們彼此議論說：「我們到米斯巴聚集在耶和華面前的時候，各支派中誰沒有來呢？」原來，他們曾經起誓說：凡不到米斯巴聚集在耶和華面前的人都要被處死。 6 以色列人為他們的同胞便雅憫人難過，說：「如今以色列絕了一個支派。 7 我們曾經在耶和華面前起誓，決不把女兒嫁給便雅憫人，現在我們應該怎麼辦才能使他們剩下來的人得到妻子呢？」
8 他們又查問各支派中誰沒有到米斯巴聚集在耶和華面前，結果發現基列·雅比人缺席， 9 因為點兵的時候，沒有一個基列·雅比人在場。 10 於是，會眾派出一萬二千精兵，命令他們殺掉基列·雅比人及其婦女和孩子。 11 他們對精兵說：「你們所要做的就是消滅所有的男子和已婚婦女。」 12 他們在基列·雅比的居民中找到四百名處女，把她們帶回迦南的示羅營地。
13 全體會眾又派人到臨門岩去跟便雅憫人講和。 14 於是，便雅憫人返回了家鄉，以色列人把從基列·雅比居民中留下來的四百個處女給他們做妻子，但還是不夠。 15 眾人為便雅憫支派難過，因為耶和華使以色列少了一個支派。
16 會眾的長老說：「便雅憫支派的女子都死了，我們應該怎麼辦才能使餘下的人有妻子呢？ 17 便雅憫的餘民必須成家立後，以免以色列失去一個支派。 18 可是我們又不能把女兒嫁給他們，因為我們曾經起誓，『把女兒嫁給便雅憫人的必受咒詛。』」 19 有人想起在示羅每年都有耶和華的節期。示羅在利波拿以南、伯特利以北至示劍的大路東面。 20 於是，他們對便雅憫人說：「你們埋伏在葡萄園裡， 21 見到示羅的女子出來跳舞時，就衝出去各自搶一個，帶回便雅憫做妻子。 22 倘若她們的父親或弟兄前來抱怨，我們會說，『求你們恩待我們，因為我們從戰場上帶回的女子不夠分給他們做妻子。何況又不是你們把女兒嫁給他們的，所以罪不在你們。』」 23 便雅憫人就依計行事，從跳舞的女子中各自搶了一個，帶回自己的家鄉做妻子。他們重建城邑，住在其中。 24 於是，以色列人離開那裡，各回自己的支派、宗族和家園。
25 那時候，以色列人沒有王，人人各行其是。
Judges 19-21
New International Version
Judges 19-21
New International Version
A Levite and His Concubine
19 In those days Israel had no king.
Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim(A) took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.(B) 2 But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3 her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents’ home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4 His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking,(C) and sleeping there.
5 On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself(D) with something to eat; then you can go.” 6 So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman’s father said, “Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.(E)” 7 And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8 On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!” So the two of them ate together.
9 Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” 10 But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus(F) (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
11 When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Come, let’s stop at this city of the Jebusites(G) and spend the night.”
12 His master replied, “No. We won’t go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13 He added, “Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah(H) and spend the night in one of those places.” 14 So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.(I) 15 There they stopped to spend the night.(J) They went and sat in the city square,(K) but no one took them in for the night.
16 That evening(L) an old man from the hill country of Ephraim,(M) who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17 When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”(N)
18 He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord.[a](O) No one has taken me in for the night. 19 We have both straw and fodder(P) for our donkeys(Q) and bread and wine(R) for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”
20 “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21 So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.(S)
22 While they were enjoying themselves,(T) some of the wicked men(U) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.(V)”
23 The owner of the house went outside(W) and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.(X) 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter,(Y) and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her(Z) and abused her(AA) throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.
29 When he reached home, he took a knife(AB) and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.(AC) 30 Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt.(AD) Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!(AE)”
The Israelites Punish the Benjamites
20 Then all Israel(AF) from Dan to Beersheba(AG) and from the land of Gilead came together as one(AH) and assembled(AI) before the Lord in Mizpah.(AJ) 2 The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men(AK) armed with swords. 3 (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”
4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah(AL) in Benjamin to spend the night.(AM) 5 During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.(AN) They raped my concubine, and she died.(AO) 6 I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,(AP) because they committed this lewd and outrageous act(AQ) in Israel. 7 Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.(AR)”
8 All the men rose up together as one, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house. 9 But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.(AS) 10 We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah[b] in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.” 11 So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.(AT)
12 The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?(AU) 13 Now turn those wicked men(AV) of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.(AW)”
But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. 14 From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites. 15 At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah. 16 Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed,(AX) each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17 Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
18 The Israelites went up to Bethel[c](AY) and inquired of God.(AZ) They said, “Who of us is to go up first(BA) to fight(BB) against the Benjamites?”
The Lord replied, “Judah(BC) shall go first.”
19 The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. 20 The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. 21 The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites(BD) on the battlefield that day. 22 But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. 23 The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord(BE) until evening,(BF) and they inquired of the Lord.(BG) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight(BH) against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”
The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”
24 Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. 25 This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites,(BI) all of them armed with swords.
26 Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord.(BJ) They fasted(BK) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings(BL) and fellowship offerings(BM) to the Lord.(BN) 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(BO) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(BP) was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar,(BQ) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)(BR) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”
The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.(BS)”
29 Then Israel set an ambush(BT) around Gibeah. 30 They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before. 31 The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away(BU) from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel(BV) and the other to Gibeah. 32 While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,”(BW) the Israelites were saying, “Let’s retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads.”
33 All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place(BX) on the west[d] of Gibeah.[e] 34 Then ten thousand of Israel’s able young men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize(BY) how near disaster was.(BZ) 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin(CA) before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. 36 Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten.
Now the men of Israel had given way(CB) before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush(CC) they had set near Gibeah. 37 Those who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword.(CD) 38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke(CE) from the city,(CF) 39 and then the Israelites would counterattack.
The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”(CG) 40 But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.(CH) 41 Then the Israelites counterattacked,(CI) and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come(CJ) on them. 42 So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there. 43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily[f] overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.(CK) 45 As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon,(CL) the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.
46 On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite(CM) swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. 47 But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48 The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.(CN)
Wives for the Benjamites
21 The men of Israel had taken an oath(CO) at Mizpah:(CP) “Not one of us will give(CQ) his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”
2 The people went to Bethel,[g] where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly. 3 “Lord, God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing(CR) from Israel today?”
4 Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(CS)
5 Then the Israelites asked, “Who from all the tribes of Israel(CT) has failed to assemble before the Lord?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah was to be put to death.
6 Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said. 7 “How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath(CU) by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?” 8 Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead(CV) had come to the camp for the assembly. 9 For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.
10 So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children. 11 “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Kill every male(CW) and every woman who is not a virgin.(CX)” 12 They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh(CY) in Canaan.
13 Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace(CZ) to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon.(DA) 14 So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them.
15 The people grieved for Benjamin,(DB) because the Lord had made a gap in the tribes of Israel. 16 And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left? 17 The Benjamite survivors must have heirs,” they said, “so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.(DC) 18 We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath:(DD) ‘Cursed be anyone who gives(DE) a wife to a Benjamite.’ 19 But look, there is the annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh,(DF) which lies north of Bethel(DG), east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem,(DH) and south of Lebonah.”
20 So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, “Go and hide in the vineyards 21 and watch. When the young women of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing,(DI) rush from the vineyards and each of you seize one of them to be your wife. Then return to the land of Benjamin. 22 When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us the favor of helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war. You will not be guilty of breaking your oath because you did not give(DJ) your daughters to them.’”
23 So that is what the Benjamites did. While the young women were dancing,(DK) each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance(DL) and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.(DM)
24 At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance.
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.(DN)
Footnotes
- Judges 19:18 Hebrew, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum; Septuagint going home
- Judges 20:10 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- Judges 20:18 Or to the house of God; also in verse 26
- Judges 20:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 20:33 Hebrew Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- Judges 20:43 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 21:2 Or to the house of God
New International Version (NIV) 
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